Some great dishes have great cultural heritage behind them, while others are created just because something in the fridge needs to be eaten. Today’s fritters are in that last category. We had a lonely courgette in the fridge that had seen better days and really needed to be eaten. In the spirit of anything can be turned into a fritter (much like anything can be turned into a pakora), this dish was born with the minimum of reliance on fresh ingredients. Which make this perfect for emptying the fridge or for those days when you really could do with going to the shops but just don’t have the time. Paired…
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Traditional English Scones (Vegan & Gluten Free!)
Scones are the centrepiece of the classic English cream tea. Crumbly and just a little sweet, they’re the perfect pairing to jam and even some clotted cream. While the cream is out of the picture for me, these scones are a delight. We last had these as a part of our anniversary celebration. While we couldn’t celebrate outside the house, we made it special by throwing our own afternoon tea. Including some delightful sandwiches, some of my vegan coffee and walnut cake, and starring these scones with jam, it made for wonderful high point to the day. This recipe is so easy, a small child can make this with ease,…
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Fijian Dhal Soup (Vegan, GF, NF)
I picked up this recipe when we visited Fiji a few years ago. While it was part of a truly wonderful holiday, the cooks there struggled with the concept of veganism. Around the repetitive meals and a few not so tasty dinners, this soup became a favourite for both me and Kenny, despite being before he went vegetarian. Totally tasty, I begged the chef for his recipe not even half way through our stay. I’ve made some tweaks since then to make this my own and it makes for a quick, cheap and easy meal. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s a great backup to have in your pocket for…
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Jackfruit Carnitas (Vegan & Gluten Free)
Lets do some real talk folks, I’m a white girl living in suburban London. Authentic Mexican food can be a little hard to track down round here and I’ve never been to Mexico so I’m left to look at pictures on the internet and imagine. I’m not going to be your most authentic source of Mexican food but I can tell you whats tasty and these carnitas are so tasty! Inspired by the traditional Mexican dish of pork carnitas where a shoulder of pork is slow cooked until it starts to fall apart, then grilled to crisp up the edges. Cooked with tons of aromatics, this tender and flavourful dish…
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Coffee and Walnut Cake (Vegan & Gluten Free)
We’ve all picked up new obsessions during lockdown, mine seems to be the desire to create the ideal, easy, gluten free and vegan cake. I’ve spent a fair amount of time working on these cakes and we’ve had a lot of not-good cake to get through. Both types of cakes have the same issues – structure. Gluten free cakes rely on the protein in the eggs to maintain their structure while vegan cakes typically need the gluten in flour. If you’ve ever tried to make a cake that combines these two aspects and it’s collapsed, this is why. If you don’t want to hear me ramble on about the fundamentals…
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Green Papaya Salad (Som Tom Thai)
Dig out your spiralizers people – today we’re making Papaya Salad! I know, using a spiralizer isn’t authentic, it’s certainly not how you’ll see them making it at the night markets in Thailand! Personally if I tried cutting papaya using the traditional method then I’d probably loose a finger. An alternative method often suggested is using a grater and while this will work in a pinch, it often leaves you with papaya strands that are just too thin. A favourite of Thai cusine, this salad is spicy, sour and yet sweet, with the contrasting textures of soft and crunchy. Wandering around the markets in Thailand you’ll see different stalls at…
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Tomato Risotto with Basil & Garlic Breadcrumbs (Vegan, Gluten Free & Nut Free)
Risotto is one of those comforting recipes that can seem so unapproachable when served in a restaurant but it’s really not! The secret to a traditional risotto is hot stock, and stirring – never stop stirring. it can be an extremely soothing way to end a stressful day to stand at your hob and gradually nurse a risotto to life. On the other hand, if you don’t have the time or inclination to stand there, constantly stirring, then just leave it to your pressure cooker. Seriously, with very little work you can have dinner ready in 15 to 20 minutes by just leaving the risotto to your pressure cooker. This…
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Crunchy Chickpea ‘Tuna’ Salad (Vegan & Gluten Free)
Before I went vegan, tuna sandwiches were a big favourite of mine. Never home made, these shop bought sandwiches were my go to choice whenever I didn’t have to see anyone too soon afterwards – not wanting to subject anyone to my fishy/onion breath! This vegan version of one of my favourite snack, has a surprisingly similar texture from the chickpeas (just go with me on this – you won’t believe me till you try it!), and such a similar taste from the seasonings. It’ll only take 10 minutes to make and, while it works better if made the night before so the flavours can meld, you can eat it…
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Aubergine Banh Mi (Vegan & Gluten Free)
These spicy, crunchy sandwiches are a staple in Vietnamese food culture and are perfect on a warm summer’s day. It may seem complicated when you pick one up from a food truck but it’s actually quite approachable with lots of little bits that can be done ahead. In other words, its a recipe that’s made for lockdown, doing the odd bit here and there as working from home allows! The big benefit of doing this yourself is that it allows your to modulate the heat in this Sandwich. Traditionally, this is served with plenty of chillies and an extra layer of even more fresh chillies for those who want it.…
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Vegan Mushroom Pâté
The weather we’ve been having recently has put me in the mind of picnics. Whether you’re Eating lunch outside, or having a drink while watching the sun go down, taking a break and spending some time out side can be great for your mental health – especially right now where so many of us are stuck in our own homes! With that in mind, I’ve been thinking about what you’d need for a picnic and it just came to me – Pate! Obviously I haven’t had it in a while but this tasty toast topping and cracker accompaniment is ideal for veganising. My recipe is completely vegan but so meaty…
